Definitions skills/homework Preparing the next step

Self-management skillsAutonomyThe ability to take a number of decisions and actions oneself, and the willingness to takeresponsibility for ones own actions and accomplishments, to correct failures and to improveachievements.Goal-directedness/Result-driven approachThe ability to achieve personal and team results and successes, to close cases. The drive toperform excellently.PerseveranceThe ability to persevere in spite of obstacles or opposition. Being able to undertake actionbenefitting the outcome without being asked. Being able to prevent problems and to createnew opportunities.Coping with stressThe ability to remain calm in stressful work situations and to perform well in spite ofpressure. Being able to react result-driven in frustrating situations or when faced withobstacles and opposition.Planning, organising and prioritisingThe ability to adequately estimate the available time, means and guidelines, and to use thatinformation to make an adequate, effective and realistic planning to achieve the goals setout.Acting and thinking pragmaticallyThe ability to make decisions and to proceed to implementation, taking into account theurgency of the situation as well as the quality demanded of the results.Problem-solving skillsThe ability to collect and to interpret the correct data and to analyse precisely a problem.Being able to develop systematic solutions and to follow-up on situations.Relational skillsInterpersonal skills/ communicationThe ability to clearly formulate information and ideas and to communicate about them, taking intoconsideration the reactions and convictions of others and inviting them to share their ideas andopinions.1

Definitions skills/homework Preparing the next step

Teamwork/ working togetherThe ability to co-operate in reaching a common goal, as opposed to working individually or incompetition with each other.Diplomatic skillsThe ability to assess the agendas and perspectives of others and to adequately make use of thisinformation while pursuing personal interests and needs.NetworkingThe ability to build and retain formal and informal relationships, thus creating a network of contactswith people who are (or could be) interesting or useful for achieving ones goals.Presentations/speaking in publicThe ability to pass on ideas and opinions to diverse audiences in a clear language. Being able toprepare and give clear and fluent presentations in a confident manner.Confidence & assertivityThe courage to express and argue ones own opinion, also when it contradicts the opinions orinterests of others.Academic & technical skillsResearch setupThe ability to formulate and check research hypotheses on the basis of an appropriate researchMethodological skills & statistical analysesThe ability to use adequate research methodologies, data collection and statistical analysistechniques as a function of the research goal.Data interpretation skillsThe ability to understand and explain data on the basis of existing insights and theories. Being able torecognise new patterns and relationships and in doing so achieve new theoretical insights.Reporting skillsThe ability to present the results and conclusions in an intelligible way to a (non) expert audience.Project and budget managementThe ability to develop an adequate project plan, in which the division of labour is planned in differentstages and assigned to all those involved within the proposed timing and budget. Being able toactually implement this planning and to follow up it continuously.

Definitions skills/homework Preparing the next step

Fund raisingThe ability to identify potential sources of funding and to approach them in such a way that the fundswill be allocated, taking into account the institutions guidelines in force.Pedagogical skillsThe ability to pass on ones own knowledge and skills to others so that they can integrate them withtheir own insights and thus achieve new, creative and integrated solutions.Language skillsThe ability to express oneself easily both orally and in writing in a foreign language, both within onesown field of specialisation and within daily communication.Knowledge of the research fieldAcquired expertise, know-how & specialisation

Intellectual skillsConceptual thinkingThe ability to apply creative, conceptual and inductive reasoning to identify patterns and correlationswhich are not self-evident and to deduce from them specific suggestions and original and practicablesolutions.Analytical thinkingThe ability to understand problems/situations by gradually analysing them and by systematicallystudying their constituent parts, while sticking to the facts.Synthetic skillsThe ability to smoothly combine data and to integrate a complex multitude of data into a coherentwhole. Being able to present alternatives and to develop them into a convincing conclusion.Critical thinkingThe ability to evaluate the value of a statement or a fact and to question matters. Being able toactively and creatively look for room for improvement.Interdisciplinary thinking/ broadmindednessThe ability to formulate, from different angles and disciplines, an integrated proposal which mayalready present some alternatives. The willingness to look beyond ones personal specialisation andto look for complementarity and synergy.Learning capability & interestThe ability to actively look for opportunities to learn and to develop oneself. Continuously looking forfeedback and adjusting ones own behaviour in the light of this feedback.3

Definitions skills/homework Preparing the next step

Leadership & change management

Leadership and motivation skillsThe ability to unambiguously formulate goals and priorities and thus to direct a group towards thedesired end-result. Being able to instill in others enthusiasm and the dedication to performexcellently.Strategic thinkingThe ability to translate long term outlooks and strategies to the daily work situation. Being able totrace out ways to reaching a goal, taking into account internal and external factors and marketinformation.Creativity and innovationThe ability to propose novel ideas and to integrate different perspectives in a creative way. Beingable to recognise the need for renewal and to go beyond the status quo.Taking initiative & entrepreneurshipBeing action-driven and pro-active (instead of reactive). Noticing and anticipating opportunities andthreats.FlexibilityThe ability to adjust ones own behaviour and thinking according to the context so as to attain thedesired goal. The ability to adapt oneself and to function efficiently under changing circumstancesand with different groups or people.International focusThe ability to expand and maintain international networks to achieve optimal results. The willingnessto be internationally mobile when it benefits ones personal development and/or the organisation.